MINNEAPOLIS — After an impressive performance in the Vikings pre-season game, many fans had a sinking feeling when they heard their first-round draft quarterback JJ McCarthy had reported knee soreness on Monday.
Two days later, the team announced McCarthy had undergone a full meniscus repair, which effectively ended his rookie season before it even officially began.
Immediately, fans of The Purple seemed to exhale at once and shake their heads in defeat.
"Every time something is going to go well for the Vikings, something always falls apart," KFAN Power Trip's Paul Lambert explained.
Lambert - better known to Power Trip listeners as Meat Sauce - is known for his direct no-nonsense sports takes. He believes McCarthy has a lot of potential, and was still the right draft pick in 2024. Sauce trusts that Vikings Head Coach, Kevin O'Connell will be a good mentor to guide the young QB and prepare for next year. But, this injury feels like yet another classic bad card being dealt to the Vikings.
"The season is still three weeks away. It hasn't even started, and the clouds are rolling in. It's going to be raining for like two years," Lambert said.
When discussing the history of Minnesota's quarterback misfortunes, Sauce of course brought up 1998 when quarterback Brad Johnson suffered a season-ending injury and backup Randall Cunningham led them to the playoffs. It was Randy Moss' rookie year, and the team went 15-1. It was a fun run for fans until the NFC North Championship game.
Then, two words: Gary Anderson.
The "wide left" field goal miss against Atlanta is a moment that still haunts Lambert to this day.
"The Vikings are always a bridesmaid and never a bride," Lambert said.
Sauce is holding out hope that Sam Darnold might pull a Cunningham but says it's a shot in the dark. Lambert believes Darnold has never played for a team with talent on their roster like the Vikings have in Justin Jefferson. He compared Darnold to a good cook at a bad restaurant.
"Until Sam Darnold proves us otherwise, we need to have faith in him," Lambert said.
Hope is good, but Lambert is a realist. He points to the challenging schedule ahead for the Vikings this year as they play multiple teams that went far in the playoffs last year.
"I am already looking forward to the (2025) draft. I will be cheering for them to lose, and so will my counterpart Cory Cove," Lambert said with a straight face.
After all, Lambert still rides for the purple and gold and always will.
"Even if they are 1 - 16 and don't win a game, we will watch it," he said. "There is nothing better than Vikings football on a Sunday in the fall."